About Low Vision

There are many people who have a vision loss that is not correctable with typical eyeglasses or contact lenses. They've lost some vision and are unable to see well enough to participate in activities that are important to them. We say that these people have low vision. Eye diseases like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Stargardt's disease and glaucoma, among others, are common causes of low vision.
For many years there have been optometrists who help low vision patients see better so they can return to a more normal life. Special telescopic or microscopic glasses are often prescribed which help the person return to reading, driving, using a computer, participating in hobbies or crafts. Some people are able to return to work.
Most of these people have been told by their eye doctors that nothing can be done to help them. It is true that there is no cure for these diseases and the vision will not return to normal. The job of the low vision optometrist is to evaluate the person's remaining vision and prescribe appropriate glasses or other devices which magnify what is seen, making it easier to see.

Free Telephone Consultation
My practice is totally dedicated to helping low vision patients. That is all that I do. I always speak with patients before scheduling a low vision evaluation. That helps me understand how much remaining vision they have and what their goals are. I also answer questions and give the person an idea of what to expect from the evaluation and from the special glasses. I only schedule people who I can help.
Call me for a free telephone consultation. I will be happy to speak with you and I will tell you if I can help you see better. Call toll free 1 866 321-2030
I see low vision patients in offices in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Wytheville, VA.

More information at VirginiaLowVision.com and facebook.com/VirginiaLowVisionOptometrist


Thursday, June 21, 2012

Expert: Cataract Surgery Will Not Worsen Macular Degeneration


Patients often ask me if having cataract surgery can cause macular degeneration or make it worse.  Here is a recent reference to an article from the Chicago Tribune.  The study cited showed no association between cataract surgery and worsening macular degeneration.

Expert: Cataract Surgery Will Not Worsen Macular Degeneration.
In a question and answer column in the Chicago Tribune /Harvard Health Letters (6/21), a reader asks of cataract surgery could worsen a case of existing macular degeneration. Eye expert Jeff Heier, MD, of the Harvard Health Letter Editorial Board, pointed out, "In 2009, results of an analysis of a large, NIH-funded study called the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) were reported" in which "researchers found no association between cataract surgery and worsening of macular degeneration." He added, "Often, one study isn't enough to settle a medical issue. But the AREDS results pretty much did, trumping the results of those earlier studies because it was large (about 4,500 volunteers) and followed people over a fairly long period (five years or longer)."
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